July Retail Sales: A Mixed Bag

Total Retail Sales declined 0.1% in July, the first monthly decline recorded in five months by the Commerce Department. Gas sales increased 0.8% in July, fueled not by increased demand but by surging prices. The cost of imported petroleum products rose by four percent in July, causing the price of oil to peak at over $147 a barrel. Excluding gas sales, retail sales dropped 0.2% for the month.

The decline in retail sales for July is largely blamed on the worst sales month Detroit automakers have experienced in 16 years. Vehicle and auto parts sales declined 2.4% in July, down 10.5% from a year ago.

June’s retail sales, however, were revised upward from 0.1% to 0.3%, which suggests July’s numbers may be better than the initial reports.

Studies have shown that so far about only 20 percent of the stimulus checks have been spent with consumers choosing to save much of the rest of the payments. The administration argues that the checks will get spent in coming months, helping to lift economic activity for the rest of the year.

Until prices begin to deflate in a consistent manner, and unemployment stabilizes, consumers will continue to limit their spending. Americans continued to limit their driving in July, a trend that may turnaround if August’s prices keep dropping.

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About the HSH Blog

HSH.com's daily blog focuses on the latest developments in the mortgage and housing markets. Our mission is to relate how changes in mortgage rates and housing policy, as well as the latest financial news, impacts consumers, homebuyers and industry insiders alike. Our 30-plus years of experience in the mortgage industry gives us an edge as we break down the latest changes in an ever-changing market.

Our bloggers:

Tim Manni

Tim Manni is the Managing Editor of HSH.com and the author of their daily blog,
which concentrates on the latest developments in the mortgage and housing
markets.